Leicester boss planning swoop for Ajax’s star striker

Claudio Ranieri wants options alongside Jamie Vardy

Leicester City may be riding high in third in the Premier League, and they boast the division’s top goalscorer, but it appears boss Claudio Ranieri wants even more goals and attacking prowess in the second half of the season.

While Jamie Vardy has set the Foxes’ campaign alight with 11 goals this season, including his current run of goals in eight successive games, Leicester’s other forwards have struggled to make an impact.

Last season’s hero Leonardo Ulloa has failed to replicate his form of 12 months ago, while Andrej Kramaric has yet to feature for a full 90 minutes this term and has been left out of the squad for two of the east Midlands side’s last three games.

Vardy has netted almost half of Leicester’s 23 league goals, and Ranieri is clearly aware he needs other potent options should the England international pick up an injury.

Step forward Ajax hotshot Arkadiusz Milik, who is attracting attention across the continent.

The 21-year-old netted 23 times for the Dutch giants while on-loan from Bayer Leverkusen last season, and Ajax swiftly made the move permanent in the summer.

The Poland international has carried on his form this term, already netting seven goals while playing a big role in securing his nation’s place at Euro 2016 alongside Robert Lewandowski.

Milik has come close to England shores before, having a trial at Tottenham at 16 before rejecting a move to Reading.

Ajax paid just £2m for a player who is quickly becoming one of the bargain buys of the summer, and according to the papers the Foxes – 4/5 to beat Watford this weekend – aren’t afraid to pay upwards of £10m for a player who’s best days are very much yet to come.

It’s a thrilling time to be a Leicester City fan, and this January’s transfer window could crank the excitement level another notch.

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Richard loves his sport, especially if it involves the sound of tyres screaming around a race track. He's not fussy though and his '90s Premier League nostalgia and knowledge of team nicknames is tough to match.

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